BIRMINGHAM,
Alabama - National Flood Safety Week is March 16-22, and a UAB physician says we
should all be ready to deal with floods if they occur, according to a news
release on Wednesday from UAB spokesman Bob Shepard.

"Flooding
can occur quickly, and we need to prepare for it, just as we need to prepare
for other weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes," said Sarah
Nafziger, an emergency medicine physician at UAB and assistant director of state
emergency medical services for the Alabama Department of Public Health.

For
example, homeowners and other residents should have a plan for getting out of their
communities if necessary, according to Nafziger.

"If
flooding is expected in your area, plan an escape route that leads to higher
ground, and prepare an emergency kit with first-aid supplies and medicine,
batteries, water, flashlights and non-perishable food," she said. "Charge your
electronic devices, and be ready to flee."